Work Text:
Pierre’s hotel room was dark, the only source of light was his phone screen set to the minimum brightness, barely lightening the corner of his room. Stripping the bed of its covers the omega had a made a small nest on the floor, the bed being too high for his liking. He needed the room to feel small, the covers around him were tightened as best as he could, Pierre was in desesperate need of cuddles and a reassuring hug but he couldn’t ask anyone for it. He had arrived too early in Belgium, he was and felt so alone.
The Spa Grand Prix weekend was coming and Pierre wasn’t sure he felt ready to step on that track again this year. He had had everything organised for the commemoration, a run that drivers, engineers and mechanics knew and praticipated with honor; but remembering Anthoine wasn’t the only thing that spiked his anxiety up.
His Alpha wasn’t going to be so close to him next season.
The law was mostly in favor of Omegas nowadays, giving them more rights and protection because they were rare and to be preserved; but that also meant the FIA had to have strong regulations about Omega drivers. To avoid repercutions if anything had to happen to an omega driver, one could only drive if mated and with the Alpha’s written permission. As a minor, a parent will suffice and Pierre had hoped that he’d find the love of his life before he would turn eighteen, but he had been too engrossed with his career as a driver to think about relationships.
Until he received a letter from the FIA, a reminder that he would need a mate to be entrusted with an F2 car and had a few weeks to provide a proof of mating and his Alpha’s permission.
Scrolling through an old playlist, hoping to find an old song he liked but couldn’t remember the name of, Pierre smiled at the memory of his younger self lying to his parents about going out with friends, taking the bus and running as fast as he could to meet with Esteban; even now he couldn’t decide if that was the best or the worst decision of his life.
The young alpha had welcomed him in his house worried that something bad had happened because of how distressed the omega smelled.
“What the fuck happened to you?”
Esteban didn’t even let Pierre answer, grabbed his shoulder to force him inside and locked the door, in case he had been running away from someone.
“ Ça va Pierre ?”
Too worried about losing the opportinuty to make his dream come true and become an F1 driver, Pierre didn’t think about how he was going to be the presence of Esteban for the first time since he presented as an alpha. He was shaken by his scent and how it helped calm him down. A whine escaped.
“Okay, you can explain later. Let’s get you somewhere warm first.”
Too surprised by his own actions Pierre forgot how to speak, guided by Esteban’s hand he followed him to his parent’s living room and let himself be sat on the couch. The Alpha disappeared for a moment, giving Pierre the time to collect himself and hyping himself up for what he was going to ask his ex-bestfriend. But Esteban reappeared just as fast, placing a glass of water on the coffee table in front of the omega and laying a duvet on his shoulders.
“Do you need more?” asked Esteban gesturing to the duvet he just gave him “My mom said omegas needed a lot of them sometimes”
Pierre smiled, he knew the alpha had presented late and was still figuring out how to behave with omegas, but at that moment he liked to pretend that it was because it was him.
“No it’s okay thank you, I don’t need to nest or anything.”
“Oh okay.”
Esteban looked at him a little unsure, but finally decided to sit next to him. He didn’t ask anything else, he patiently waited for Pierre to speak. Had it been another time Pierre would have let him simmer a little longer, watching with attention how his leg started shaking.
“Remember how we both had … have the same dream?”
“Hmm?”
The Alpha was looking at him again and he thought he was going to do it without crying, but thinking about the possibility of everything stopping now made him tear up. He could feel his throat closing up, a sob threatening to come out.
“We want to become F1 drivers. We wanted to do it together.”
“Yeah, wanted to.”
“Esteban, please. It’s not the moment to fight right now”
It was hard to ask him that Pierre knew it well, they weren’t friends anymore, but they didn’t hate each other at least he thought. They were just really competitive with each other, and maybe something more. He tried to speak again but words didn’t come out, too many emotions were going through him right now.
He had missed Esteban, he was happy to see him again, he hated to see him again, he wished he could just forget about him, he needed him.
The omega shakingly reached for his pocket and pulled out the letter he had received, it had been folded over multiple times to keep it hidden from his parents. Esteban unfolded the letter, the paper weakened by Pierre when he had first read it and crumpled it in a fit of rage, and read it.
“You have until January? But your birthday is in February.”
“They … they are legally obligated to give a month of margin for the Alpha to take back the permission in case they change their mind about it.”
Esteban nodded, looked at the letter again, then at Pierre’s neck. The lack of a bite mark was telling him a lot.
“Pierre, did you came here to ask me to bite you?”
Pierre had expected Esteban to sound offended, or angry even. But not sad.
“Yes. I can’t just stop right now, not when it’s going so well. I know I can become an F1 driver, and I will. But I need you for that.”
“What would I get from that? Except another rival for an F1 seat and a responsability for an omega.”
Pierre didn’t even think about that possibility, that Esteban could simply refuse because that would actually benefit him. His plan was already falling through, but he couldn’t just ask anyone else. Who could he trust with a bite other than Esteban. Sure, maybe Esteban hated him now, but he was still a good person, he wouldn’t force Pierre into anything only because he’s an alpha.
“I know it’s a lot, and I would understand if you refuse. But you also made a promise.”
Pierre was going to get that bite, no matter how. If he had to trigger the alpha’s competitiveness and agression, then so be it.
“You promised you would try to you hardest to become an F1 driver, and I made that same promise too. You can’t beat me if I’m taken out by the system first. How can you try your hardest if your greatest rival can’t follow you?”
A blur of movement followed, Esteban moving too fast for Pierre’s eyes to follow, only a second after he found himself staring at the alpha’s eyes, the man towering over him with his hand gripping the omega’s neck. He wasn’t scared, Esteban would never actually hurt him, he smiled instead.
“You think you’re my greatest rival?”
Seeing Esteban angry was a little turn on for Pierre, the occurence so rare eclipses were jealous, but he was still focused on convincing the young man to bite him.
“I am. Look at me, I’m a little omega without defense and you’re still attacking me like I could actually hurt you. Same goes with driving. I can beat you. Allow me to race and prove me wrong.”
“Fuck.”
Finally Esteban was considering it, lowering his hand from his neck to his shoulder, his eyes glaring at the omega’s scent glands. The idea that Esteban could actually bite him right now sent a shiver down Pierre’s spine. He couldn’t tell if his omega wanted it or if he was just too eager to continue racing.
“Please, Este”
Esteban had had the bright idea to wait for his rut expected a week later, hoping it would trigger Pierre’s heat and make the process less painful.
The omega whined, the memory made him nostalgic and a little horny. He laid on his back and finally put on a random song to distract himself, his thoughts went back to present day Esteban.
They had agreed for years to only see each other twice a year for a scheduled rut and heat to make sure their inner animal didn’t go crazy because of the separation, but when they became teammates the whole agreement had to be thrown away. Being so close to each other so often made their bond stronger, but they were still too stubborn to go back on their words and try to be an actual mated couple. They both loved and hated each other, and Pierre didn’t want it to change, it was their way.
But when the news dropped that Esteban was leaving Alpine Pierre had spent the whole day in his nest crying, the thought of his alpha leaving him made him realise how badly he needed Esteban close to him.
He became an F1 driver because the alpha agreed to bite him and sign the permission, but mostly because he always raced with Esteban in mind, with the need to beat him in this game, to race and compete against him for ever. When he had asked a few weeks ago if the Alpha was still going to be around for the 2025 season, Esteban had told him he wasn’t sure yet but that it looked good.
The omega didn’t know how leaving his team was good, he needed the alpha in the paddock, who was he driving against if not?
The other 18 drivers? They didn’t count.
The omega dropped his phone and went for his neck in an attempt to calm himself down, his hand moved to the back of his neck and gripped it as tight as he could, trying to mimic the way Esteban would gentle him when his heat triggers an anxiety attack. He really needed an actual human presence and warmth. Pierre considered calling Esteban, maybe his teammate arrived early at the hotel too.
And maybe their bond was stronger than he thought, because a chime came from his phone and lightened up next to his face, showing a text from the alpha :
You’re already here?
Pierre considered not replying, he needed the alpha but couldn’t admit it, and yet the need for comfort was too great. Instead his phone made the choice for him when another notification popped up. Pierre sat up and put the brightness on maximum to read :
“Esteban Ocon to join American MoneyGram Haas F1 Team on a multi-year contract”
The omega sent back the article as a reply and let a sigh of relief escape as he laid back in his nest.
Sorry, would’ve told you if I was sure you wouldn’t spill anything to Charles, this idiot can’t keep his mouth shut.
Pierre smiled at his screen.
Fair enough
Pierre looked at Esteban’s last message once again, and his anxiety was suddenly gone, amusement took its place instead, and he laughed. The nervous laugh took him over, he had been so worried about missing the alpha, sad over the idea that his alpha wasn’t going to be around him anymore… but now he knew he would still get to see his stupid face in the paddock for a few years to come.
“Mais quel connard quand même”